JEFFERSON COUNTY –Brett Kirkham, human resources director for Jefferson County Schools, has been arrested on charges of school employee engaging in sex act with student in Jefferson County and Tuscaloosa. He was also charged with possession of child pornography in Tuscaloosa. The arrest warrant was issued Thursday. As of this afternoon, Kirkham was in custody at the Tuscaloosa County Jail. He is expected to be transferred to Jefferson County at some point.
Bill Veitch, district attorney for the Bessemer Cutoff in Jefferson County, announced Kirkham’s arrest in a news conference on Thursday.
According to Veithch, on June 15, search warrants were executed by Hueytown, Tuscaloosa City, Homewood, and Bessemer. Kirkham’s school board office is in Homewood and his residence is in Tuscaloosa. The search warrant included computers and cell phones, The evidence retrieved was used to to corroborate the witness’ story.
“The evidence collected from computers is damning,” Veitch said.
Veitch said a former male student came forward to the Hueytown police department with the allegations against Kirkham. The victim is now an adult, but had been a student at Hueytown Middle School when Kirkham was principal.
Anyone with information regarding the current case or additional cases are come forward, Veitch said.
“This investigation is continuing and I expect there to be more victims,” Veitch said. “I know There are people out there with important information and we know that from the hard physical evidence we’ve recovered. This is just the beginning of the investigation.”
Authorities belive the crimes had been ongoing for a number of years.
“Don’t know the time period, yet, but it’s been a long time,” Veitch said.
In addition to serving as principle at the middle school in Hueytown, Kirkham also served as the principal at Hueytown High School before moving to the JEFCOED board office.
Only one victim has come forward, but more are believed to exist based on evidence. That evidence includes thousands of images found on computers, some made by the defendant, according to Veitch.
2 Comments
Georgie Rowan Allen
Sick
Karen Purcell-Mann
Worse than pond scum